Soil-heavy compost heap

[Rothermere]

Probably a bit of a newbie question, but I'd really appreciate some advice.

I recently (about a month ago) started a compost heap at the bottom of the garden. I used as a base material the turf that I stripped from the veg patch just dug. I laid the turf 'green-down' for a few weeks and added wet and dry garden and kitchen waste to it before turning it.

I have been keeping it moist, turned it a couple of times and am using an accelarator, but it doesn't appear to be warming up in the centre (checked by touch, not a thermometer).

Might this be because there is too much soil/turf in the mix (I'd estimate about 50% of the heap at the moment). Is there anything I can do to make the heap work, or will I need to just leave it 12 months or so to form loam and start a new, more balanced heap?

Many thanks

[airconednightmare]

aye turf stacks are a different process, the idea is to keep the light out don't turn and don't water.

compost 50/50 green to brown plant material. then keep turning/cut everything as small as possible and water if it looks really dry (it shoudn't look like a canteen slop bucket!).

[Rothermere]

Thanks

Do you think I'll be able to activate the composting process with such a heavy soil content, or should I just leave it now and move on to a new bin?

[airconednightmare]

not without adding a lot of plant material, and it would still take a while.

i'd be tempted to burry the soil/turf/etc under the veg patch as part of a double digging this winter and start again next year.

[Rothermere]

Cheers. Much appreciated.